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The NCC hired security, leaned on its biologists

A killdeer poses with one of her hatchlings on the Ottawa Bluesfest festival grounds on June 30, 2018. Moving the bird's nest to keep them safe cost the NCC just under $4,000. (Marc DesRosiers/Front Page Photo)

Keeping a family of birds free from danger on the grounds of a major Ottawa festival this summer came with a nearly $4,000 price tag, according to documents released to Parliament Monday.

The handler had an incubator for the four eggs at the ready in case something went wrong.

Conservative MP John Nater, who represents the riding of Perth-Wellington, put a question on the House of Commons order paper earlier this year about the costs of this bird rescue for the Crown corporation.

NCC staff biologists cost $2,007 for just over 60 hours of work and the commission paid a security firm to keep onlookers away for $1,948, a grand total of $3,955.